Daniel, Samuel, 1562-1619

The poet and dramatist, Samuel Daniel, was born near Taunton in 1562, the son of a music master. He was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and by 1585 was working for Lord Stafford, the English Ambassador to France. He was later employed as a tutor to William Herbert (afterwards Earl of Pembroke) and then as tutor to Lady Anne Clifford at Skipton Castle. In 1603 he wrote "A panegyric congratulatory" on the accession to the throne of James I and the following year he gained a place at Court. His tragedy "Philotas" was thought to contain a sympathetic portrayal of the treasonable conduct of the Earl of Essex and he was out of favour for a short period. After leaving the Court, he retired to Beckington, near Devizes, where he died in 1619.

From the guide to the Four verse epistles, by Samuel Daniel, ca.1601-1625, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)